Welcome to Ikenna Ugwu's Blog

Monday, 15 May 2017

Nigeria continues to bleed from
the piercing, cruel claws of her sentient venality. In spite of what is read on
the pages of newspaper, the disgusting smell and stench of a dying, or is it
dead economy hits us in the face every day. It is a pricking reality.

Did you vote in last general
election? Unfortunately, your answer, whatever it is, does not vindicate you
neither does it immune you from the harsh reality. We are in it together. This
is why we must all be active and political; we must be part of the process.

The saying that it’s always ugly
before it gets beautiful has been used to justify the characteristic slow pace
of governance of current administration. But beauty, I insist, does not appeal
to the dead. It is the living that appreciates beauty. So, while we still
breath, it is pertinent that we make conscious attempt at inspiring the kind of
change we desire.

Sunday, 14 May 2017

It’s Sunday. I hope you went to
church. I did. You may agree, that going to church doesn't make us good people.
However, it does help to keep us on track; to continue in the very essence of
our creation: to know him, and to worship him….

I’m learning to be carefree, sort
of. That’s what the Gospel, as read today, enjoins me to do – “Do not let your
heart be troubled…”.

But how realistic is this? Can I really,
ever be worry-free? I live in a strange clime. There’s always a reason to
worry. No, it is more appropriate to say ‘concerned’ not ‘worry’.

After church today, I sit (and
would later hunch over my laptop) to review few incidents that occurred in the
past week of which I feel concerned. I will tell you about them.

I choose only two.

First, during the week, I read how Nigeria’s political fraternity,
the ones you call elites gathered in Minna. It was a gathering of the high and
mighty, of predatory characters, you know, like vultures. Former head of state,
Ibrahim Babangida was to give his daughter in marriage to a Sudanese. That’s a
good thing. But that’s not the news.

Sunday, 5 February 2017

When someone says you are poor, it
does not necessarily mean you have a tag of indigence dangling from your neck;
lacking food, water or roof over your head and other 'very' basic necessities of
life. Poverty too, is the lack of power and choice, especially in a democracy.

Last Saturday, Nigerians woke to the dispiriting
news of Tuface yielding to pressure; and consequently cancelling the proposed (eagerly
awaited by many Nigerians) "one voice protest" that was to hold
across major cities in the country. The music maestro was on the verge of
making incredible statement, until he burst the bubble that Saturday morning.

Monday, 28 November 2016

So,
we have been working, thinking - so much about you. Yes you. It is a
passion, and we have been enslaved therewith. Yous faithfully have got
some great heads on his team, people with whom together we will bring
the revolution you've been dreaming about. But you owe us your patience.

Monday, 31 October 2016

Following the
ongoing Constitution amendment process, the Chairman, Senate Committee on State
and Local Government Affairs, Sen. Abdullahi Abubakar, on Sunday said provision
has been made to totally abolish the contentious joint account between states
and local governments.

Abubakar, who made the disclosure
in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birninkudu, Jigawa,
also said the lawmakers plan to abolish States Independent Electoral
Commissions.